Manchester United will begin a new era without Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Tuesday as they visit Estadio de la Ceramica to face Villarreal in a crucial Champions League match that is scheduled to kickoff at 20:45.
The two sides are level on seven points at the summit of Group F and will both head into the match knowing that a win will confirm their spot in the knockout round with a game to spare, but a defeat would leave them vulnerable in Group F as they both just stand just two points above Atalanta.
Villarreal will be looking to exploit the pressure on their visitors on Tuesday as they aim at the crucial three points that would see them advance to the knockout stages of the competition if Atalanta BC do not overcome Young Boys in the other Group F’s match.
The hosts head into match with a three-match unbeaten run across all competitions and will fancy their chances at home against an underperforming Man United as they more that held their own at Old Trafford in the reserve fixture but were unlucky as they fall to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 95th minute winner.
Meanwhile, Michael Carrick will lead Manchester United into the Tuesday’s clash as the 20-time Premier League champions parted ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a 4-1 humiliation at Watford on the weekend. The reins had started to slip from his hands early in the season but a run of five defeats in their seven Premier league matches and heavy defeats from Leicester City, Liverpool, Man City and now Watford proved investable for Ole to keep his job.
Michael Carrick will now take the helms at Old Trafford for a moment while the club look to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season and he will be determined to see his club go through to the round of 16 with a win on Tuesday. A draw would also be enough if Atalanta were to be held by Young Boys but United will go for a win as they need a confidence boost ahead of their trip to Chelsea in the Premier League next weekend.
Villarreal vs Manchester United head to head
Both sides have met in six encounters since 2005 with both sides claiming one victory while drawing the other four matches. Take a look at the previous encounters;
- Man United 2-1 Villarreal 29/09/21
- Villarreal 11-10 Man United 26/05/21 (AP)
- Villarreal 0-0 Man United 25/11/08
- Man United 0-0 Villarreal 17/09/08
- Man United 0-0 Villarreal 22/11/05
Home
- Celta Vigo 1-1 Villarreal
- Villarreal 1-0 Getafe
- Villarreal 2-0 Young Boys
- Valencia 2-0 Villarreal
- Villarreal 3-3 Cadiz
Away
- Watford 4-1 Man United
- Man United 0-2 Man City
- Atalanta 2-2 Man United
- Tottenham 0-3 Man United
- Man United 0-5 Liverpool
Villarreal team news
Villarreal will be without Gerard Moreno due to a hamstring injury while Arnaut Danjuma and Etienne Capoue make the doubt list.
Man United team news
Man United will be without Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane due to injuries and Mason Greenwood is ruled out as tested positive for Covid-19, while Edinson Cavani and Luke Shaw make the doubt list.
Prediction and odds
- Draw
- Both sides to score
- Goals under 2.5
